Dak Prescott signed the largest deal in NFL history in terms of yearly salary — a whopping $60 million — on the first day of the 2024 season. He then went 3-5 before hurting his hamstring and sitting out the rest of the year. From there, the Cowboys went 7-10 for the season and missed the playoffs.
Advertisement
It was the first time since 2020 that Dallas had missed the postseason. But it’s not like Prescott and company had success during those previous three postseason trips anyway. Prescott has gone 76-46 in nine years as Dallas’ QB1. A great regular season record eclipsed or matched by only four other QBs during that period (from 2016-2024).
However, in the playoffs, Prescott is just 2-5 in that span. That’s the same amount of playoff wins as Blake Bortles, Ryan Tannehill, and Baker Mayfield. And Cam Newton believes it’s make-or-break time for the soon-to-be 32-year-old QB, especially with Arch Manning’s likely presence in the NFL Draft next year.
Despite that massive deal he just signed, Prescott’s stint in Dallas is under a cloud. Newton believes that the quarterback has run out of excuses. Indeed, he has not had players around him like what Hall of Famer Troy Aikman had in the 1990s. But Prescott still had some good weapons on the roster.
“Dak has had well enough options. When you go back and look at the [Dallas] dynasty. When they went on that ’90s run. Troy Aikman had Emmitt Smith. Dak had a successful running game with [Tony] Pollard as well as Ezekiel Elliott,” elaborated Newton.
“This was eatin-a-bowl-of-cereal Zeke… He also had Michael Irvin! As we talk about the amenities that was on Dak Prescott’s resort, by way of Dallas… My boy done had some options,” he added.
Prescott has thrown to a couple of truly elite receivers in Dez Bryant and CeeDee Lamb. Besides, Newton believes that Prescott’s Dallas teams have had a lot more defensive stars, including Stephon Gilmore, Trevon Diggs, and Micah Parsons.
Newton feels 2025 is all or nothing for Prescott. Because if it’s not “all”, the former Heisman winner thinks owner Jerry Jones will sell the farm for a particular prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft class.
“This door is closing. Because if you don’t succeed this year. And I mean this is not even championship or bust,” said Newton.
“Dak Prescott, if you do not perform this year, that door is going to close. And in comes… Drumroll, please… Arch Manning. You go out with an injury this year, Jerry is going to [do] any and everything to spend everything for Arch Manning,” he explained.
Manning is likely going to excel at Texas this year. If he does, he will be a shoo-in to be the No. 1 pick next year, provided he declares for the Draft.
That means if Jones wants him, he’ll have to move a boatload of first-rounders as well as a few quality veteran players. Prescott could even be part of the deal.
If they do get him, Manning’s family pedigree and post-secondary schooling in Texas will also be assets for Jones and the rest of the Cowboys brass.
